Commissioned by the Institute's Korea Working Group, this Working Paper examines the complexities of Chinese-North Korean relations, taking into account the perspective of China’s border areas, a vital aspect of China’s relationship with the Korean peninsula that is often overlooked. China’s border with North Korea has proven more challenging and costly to manage over time than local Chinese authorities and Beijing had hoped, due in large part to North Korea’s failure to meet the economic needs of its people. China’s goals of deepening cross-border economic transactions through a more open border are challenged by the increased threats to local security presented by a porous border with a fragile state.